The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-07
MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAI--SATURDAY. MAY 4. 1887

PASS M 10 the box. Mr.. Suggs did not
take II up himself, but threw 1t to wit
ness, distance OF about four feet. Mr..
Pearce's manner towards Mr.. Suggs
was threatening. Saw the knife FIRST
when Mr.. Cochran had hold OF Mr..
Pearce. Did not see pistol in Mr..
Pearce's hand at any time except on
Main street. Mr.. Suggs made no
demonstrations whatever.
Joe Moon testified: Saw the diff
Guilty. Got on the car at the corner OF
Main and Adams. Mr.. Sugss was on
the platform. Witness spoke to him,
but Sugps did not answer. He went
mn and put his fare in the box and
then entered into conversation with
Mr.. Lucas. Mr.. Lucas remarked that
there was going to be trouble between
Mr.. Pearce and Mr.. Suggs. Witness
replied that he guessed not, IS there
had been bad blood for some time, hut
IL had always passed off before without
harm, At the corner Of Fourth street
a woman got out of the car, and Mr..
Pearce crowded down into her seat
The next he noticed was a sCuffie in
the end of the car. There was shot
fred. and then witness took Suggs's
pistol from his hand. Did not know
who fred the shot. One chamber OF
Mr.. Snggs's pistol was empty. There
wereM good many people in the car,
some ladies.
The Attorney General announced
, that they had no more witnesses, and
Col. Patterson asked to have Mr.Suggs
sworn on his own behalf. Mr.. Suggs,
| in answer to questions by his counsel,
said that he lives on the Boulevard,
and resides about . quarter or baf
mile from Mr.. Pearce, who lives on
the same street; that he usually Roes
home from to z o'clock, and fIe-
quently meets Mr., Pearce on the street
cars; that bad feeling exists between
him and Mr.. Pesrce; that Mr.. Pearce
had assaulted him eighteen months or
TIVE wears ego, and that his manner has
long b. en- very thlea ening; that on
several occasions when Psarce would
re. into the street cars, and find wit
ness there, lie would put his hand on
his pistol and ran his hand in his pis-
toll pocket, and on one occasion he
pulled out his knife and opened ii and
laid it on the seat beside
him, and looked at him
in very threatening manner;
that he never had been threatening in
his manner to Pearce, and always tried
to be full, especially In such a
crowded place as street car; that
when he got on the street Car he found
Mr.. Pearce on there; as he walked In
to deposit his fare he heard Pearce
say, "He swore q Cd d-n lie."
Witness paid no attention 10 this, but
went out on the back end of the car.
As he went on back Pesrce said, "Yes,
he swore a Cd d-n lie, ald go did
his partner" Mr.. Suggs said he took
his position at the door OF the car,
leaning against the facing and looking
toward Mr.. Psarce. Very soon after
he got on the car his attention was at
tracted to Mr.. Pesrte getting up and
taking a pistol from one pocket and
transferring it to another. Every once
in while he could see the handle Of
IL, and Psales would look at him as il
he would like to use it. Mr.. Cochran
got on somewhere near Washington
and passed witness his nickel to
put in the box, which he
tossed over to Mr.. Lucas to
be passed up. Mr.. Cochran went in
and took seat. Some OF the passen-
gers got out and Mr.. Pearce moved
down. Mr.. Cochran crossed over and
took a seat beside Mr.. Pearcs, add Mr..
Pearce at once i'd down to the corner
, and remained there but few seconds
when he suddenly raised up, put one
of his feet on the bench and turned
toward him (5uggs) and made an Ell
fort to strike him, and did strike him
with II, cutting cash in the sleeve o.
his coat. Mr.. Cochran then got hold
of him, and the next thing to be seen
was pistol in Mr.. Pearce's left hand
When Pearce struck at witness with
J the Knife witness pulled his pistol and
fred at Pearcs. But his arm was
thrown up by Mr.. Cochran and the
ball went up into the top OF the car.
: Mr.. Sugg5 was asked by Col. Patter
son why he did not defend himself
when he saw Mr.. Pearce tranefer hiE
. pistol from one pocket to the other
de replied that he thought about 1t
but lady was on one side and limo
cent people all around, and probably
> SONS one else would get hurt. IL,
= considered himself in danger, but pre-
3 fsrred to take chances to endaDgsrinl
3 innocent people, He did not leAv,
3 the car for fear Mr.. Pearce would as
t sault him the moment he made an!
motion in that direction or relaxed
. his vigilance. He said that there cer
: tainly WAS Ill feeling between MI
Pearce and himself, but he had neve
. in his life attempted to provoke
? quarrel with Mr., Pearce, and his rul
Y through life had been to let peopl
q alone who were willing to let hin
alone; and in this matter he had acte
t solely on the defensive.
l Robert Speed was examined by 20
. Patterson, and in answer TO question
j stated that on one occasion, in Novem
:, Der, he had been on street car Whe
} Mr.. Pearce and Mr.. Suggs were bot
4 on, and that Mr.. Pearce had made se'
y eral threatening dem 0nstrations to
Q ward Mr.. Suggs, and several times ha
= thrown his hand back, % that he Wa
Q fearful OF trouble.
. i, b, SchaD6l WAS on the car Wne
Q the difficulty took place. His Versio
: Of the affair was substantially the sam
:. as detailed by the other witnesses.
:. Mr.. M. O. Pearce then took the stan
r and gave his version oil the affair. Ii
: said he got on tie car about Coul
o street soms " here, and Mr.. suggs &C
}. on nearly opposite Lowenstein's ii
II admitted that he used the expression
n attributed to him by the witnesses, e1
8 cept the oaths, and he said he Digt
a have used tbs language twice. II
J. then explained how Mr.. Suggs too
d his position on the back end OF the ca
g and hew the passengers changed abor
till he was in the end seat. He sal
d Mr.. Suggs was cycling him constantly
p and they were both watching eac
a | othar He Jroittad changing his Dis